Sash-balance



(No Model.)

'P. H. NILES.

sAsH BALANCE.' Y No. 487,290. Patented Deo. 6, 1892.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT @Trina PETER I-I. NILES, OF' TOPEKA, KANSAS.

SASH-BALANCE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,290, dated December 6, 1892. p

Application iiled November 21.1891. Serial No. L112,698. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER H. NILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, Kansas, have invent-ed acertain new and useful Means for Balancing and Locking Vindow-Sashes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic sash-balancing device whereby the sash can be raisedv to and held at any point up and down. The device is so constructed that the lowering of the sash tends to bring the parts into condition to more effectually assist in raising and holding the same. My sash-balance is also provided with a simple and easily-operated lock which can be brought into engagement with one of the operative parts of the device to block or prevent the revolution of the same, whereby the sash can be held at any elevation in such manner as to be incapable of being moved until locked.

My invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a vertical sectional view of a portion of the window-sash and adjacent frame, showing my sash-balance applied thereto, Fig. 2 a vertical cross-section of the same; and Fig. 3, a front elevation of a portion of the windowframe with one of the sashes therein and the balance applied thereto.

The window frame, sill, and sash may be made in any form of any material, and in fact in any of the well-known manners, since these parts form by themselves no part of the present invention, and their usual construction is modified herein only to such an extent as rendered necessary to attach the sash-balance. A rack R is secured to the window, preferably at both sides thereof, being inserted into such sash with its teeth in position to engage with the gear-wheel on the frame, as hereinafter described.

Into the frame of the window at suitable points, preferably at each side thereof, I insert boxes or cases of any desired material and of suitable dimensions to accommodate the various operating parts of the device. In each of these cases I journal or rotatably support a shaft K, and on this shaft I loosely adapted to be engaged by a pawl secured to the gear-wheel T, so that as this gear revolves in one direction it will cause the shaft to ref volve with it; but as it revolves in the other 'direction the shaft will remain stationary so far as any action of the gear is concerned. A fiat spring S, similar to the mainspring of a clock, is wound around the shaft, the inner end of such spring being attached to the shaft and its outer end being secured to a pin or stud in the case, so that as the shaft is revolved in one direction this spring will be wound up, and as it is revolved in the other this spring will be unwound. In order to Wind this spring up when it is desired to adjust the tension of the same by other means than the gear, I provide an opening O in the windowframe,through which a key can be inserted to engage with a groove in the head of the shaft'K.

In order to lock the sash at any height, I

provide a spindle L, sliding through the window-frame and the case and provided with a toothed lock or catch A, adapted as the spindle is drawn in one direction to engage with the teeth of the gear-wheel.

The parts, having been constructed and put together as above described, operate as fol lows: It will be obvious that raising the sash will revolve the gear toward the right, Fig. l, and allow the spring to unwind, but that lowering the sash will revolve the gear toward the left and by the engagement of the pawl and ratchet Wind up the spring. Therefore when the sash is raised to any desired height it will be supported in this position by means of the spring, since the action of the sash when falling through gravity would tend to wind up the spring, and consequently any such falling would be resisted and prevented by the spring until overcome by the additional force applied by the person lowering the sash.

In order to lock the sash at any height, the spindle L is drawn out, bringing the lock or catch A into engagement with the gear and lOO preventing its revolution, and of course when this gear is prevented from revolving it will be impossible to move the sash until the spindle is again pushed in to Withdraw the catch. Although I have herein only described the action and construction of the case and operating parts at one side of the sash, it will be understood that the parts at the other side are constructed and operated in precisely the same manner, and it is merely a matter of preference Whether a set is used in each side or not. Even if the rack, gear, and all the other parts are used at each side of the Win,- doW, the spindle and lock may be omitted at one side, if desired. B y this means I provide asimple and efficientsashbalance,vvhich is easily put in plee@ and Qperatedmhich Gau be adjusted t0. any fensien, and which is prof vided with means whereby the revolution of the operativ@ parts @an 'be positively nre vented to lock the sash at any point,

While have described mere Q1: less pre.- cise forms, l do not intend to be limited thereto, but contemplate Changes in form, proper tions, and the substitution of equivalent members, as maybe desirable or necessary.

I claim- In a sash-balance, the combination of a rack attached to the sash, a shaft journaled in the window-casing adjacent to the sash, a gear loosely mounted upon the shaft and meshing with the rack upon the shaft, a ratchet-Wheel rigidly secured to the shaft, a pawl attached to the gear and engaging With the ratchet, and an actuating-spring, one end whereof is secured at a point outside of the gear and the other to the shaft, whereby as the sash is lowered the gear will act by means of the engagement of the pawl and ratchet to revolve the shaft and Wind 11p the spring and when the sash is raised the unwnding of the spring will tend to revolve the gear and thereby aid in raising the sash, substantially as described.

PETER H- NILES Attest:

C. GAULT, MABY'F. NrLEs. 

